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Biographical Sketch

Steven Spalding, MD is Head of the Center for Pediatric Rheumatology at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Spalding has a dual appointment in the Pediatric Institute and Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital as well as within the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Disease. He is also a member of the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research. Dr. Spalding earned his medical degree from Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton and completed his pediatric residency and pediatric rheumatology fellowship at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in general pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology. He is a member of several professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Rheumatology, Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance, Northeast Ohio chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, Vasculitis Foundation, and Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group.

Dr. Spalding has presented, published and participated in research on a variety of pediatric rheumatology subjects, including pediatric vasculitis, juvenile arthritis, recurrent fever syndromes, and neonatal lupus. He is considered a national expert in the care of children with vasculitis. Dr. Spalding is currently leading research efforts in a variety of conditions including pediatric Wegener's granulomatosis, childhood onset Churg-Strauss Syndrome and Takayasu arteritis. In addition, he is actively involved in a number of international and national trials related to conditions in pediatric rheumatology. His clinical interests include pediatric vasculitis, recurrent fever/autoinflammatory syndromes, treatment of JIA, quality of care in JIA, and treatment of pediatric uveitis.

Dr. Spalding sees patients in a variety of regional locations including main campus and Avon Family Health Center. He is also available for electronic consults via the MyConsult service offered by Cleveland Clinic.

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. The Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists
receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, the Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 11/8/2014, Dr. Spalding has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers’ discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.